Lin Xiao watched Zhang Mu and the black mist exchange words while subtly scanning the cave for an escape route. There was no way they could let themselves be captured here.
As Zhang Mu continued arguing, the black mist grew increasingly impatient. It was never one to tolerate excessive chatter, and Zhang Mu’s words were testing its already short temper.
"Enough!" the black mist snapped. "I have no interest in listening to your nonsense any longer. In the end, you will all become my nourishment, and knowing the truth won’t change your fate."
Zhang Mu felt his heart sink. Had the black mist already seen through their plan? Was that why it was becoming more aggressive?
"So sure of yourself, huh?" Lin Xiao refuted, feigning confidence, "And what makes you think we’ll be your food? For all you know, you might be the one to lose today."
Lin Xiao met the black mist’s gaze fearlessly, his expression resolute. Zhang Mu and Liu Hai turned to him in shock. Lin Xiao had warned them not to act recklessly— so why was he provoking the enemy now? What was he planning?
"Lin Xiao, what are you doing?" Liu Hai whispered urgently.
Lin Xiao didn’t respond. Instead, he kept his piercing gaze locked onto the black mist.
"If you’re so confident, why don’t we put it to the test?" Lin Xiao taunted. "You’re nothing special—just a formless entity hiding in the shadows."
The black mist trembled with rage. It despised being reminded of its lack of a physical body. And now, Lin Xiao had mentioned it twice.
"You insolent little brat!" the mist roared. "You dare challenge me? Very well, I’ll show you just how powerful I am!"
Zhang Mu and Liu Hai immediately raised their weapons, preparing for the impending battle. But before the black mist could strike, Lin Xiao made his move first. With a flick of his fingers, an illusionary spell spread through the cave, momentarily entrapping the black mist. It struggled violently but found itself unable to move.
"Now! Run!" Lin Xiao shouted.
Zhang Mu and Liu Hai hesitated for only a fraction of a second before realizing what he was doing. Without wasting another moment, they turned and sprinted toward the cave’s exit.
Just as they got out, the black mist broke free from Lin Xiao’s spell. Though Lin Xiao’s illusion was effective, his current power was still too weak to restrain such a powerful foe for long.
The moment it regained control, the black mist roared in fury, "You think you can trick me and escape?!"
Its body surged forward like a storm, effortlessly closing the distance between them.
Within seconds, the black mist had caught up.
"You cowards!" it sneered. "I expected more from you. What happened to your bravado?"
The three immediately pressed their backs together, forming a defensive stance. They knew they couldn’t show weakness now.
The black mist wasted no time launching an attack. It lunged at them, its tendrils of darkness lashing out like whips.
Zhang Mu, Liu Hai, and Lin Xiao dodged swiftly, narrowly avoiding the strikes. Without hesitation, they counterattacked.
Despite facing a powerful foe, they had one advantage: teamwork. Two of them specialized in offense, while Lin Xiao controlled the battlefield. No matter how overwhelming the black mist’s power was, it couldn’t easily overcome a coordinated assault.
"Do you really think you three can defeat me?" the mist jeered. "You’re deluding yourselves. You’ll never win!"
But the trio ignored its taunts. Instead, they increased the intensity of their attacks, moving as one seamless unit. Zhang Mu’s blade sliced through the air, Liu Hai’s powerful strikes forced the mist to retreat, and Lin Xiao’s illusions disrupted its movements.
The relentless assault forced the black mist back. It seethed with fury.
These three were dangerous. If they continued to grow stronger, they would become a genuine threat.